The nationwide survey revealed that 70% of Americans oppose a national tax on all non-diet soft drinks, while only 18% support the idea of an ‘obesity tax’ on regular soda, like the one proposed by New York Governor, David Paterson.
According to Kevin Keane, Senior Vice President of ABA, the survey underscores that Americans fear that more taxes on middle-class life will only increase their financial burden and put even more jobs at risk during a time of record job losses.
“In an economy like this, the last thing government should be doing is raising taxes on the middle class,” Keane said. “Americans are making it clear that they have no appetite for taxing the everyday products they enjoy, especially in the middle of a recession. Nor do they want more jobs put at risk in their communities.”
Publicly released surveys of New York residents conducted by Quinnipiac University and Siena College have all come to the same conclusion, that New Yorkers strongly oppose the proposed 18% sales tax hike on beverages. The Quinnipiac poll actually shows opposition growing between December 08 and January 09.
“As these surveys are showing, families aren’t buying the ploy of an obesity tax,'” Keane said. “People are seeing it for what it is: a pure money grab by politicians. And they’re offended that lawmakers would try to raise their taxes during such difficult times.”
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